TANNING Information

A tanning treatment colours your skin so that it looks as though you have been evenly basted in the sun and have a “healthy” tan. An application of fake tan in a spa will usually take the form of a spray tan in a booth or tent, or an application of a lotion or cream by hand.

What are tanning treatments good for?
A tanning treatment will turn your skin golden brown in a fraction of the time that it would take you to do it naturally. It is also, broadly speaking, a healthier way to tan than planting yourself in the sun for hours at a time.

Many of us feel an urge to sit and bask in the sun when we see it, especially in the UK! The sun and its ultraviolet (UV) rays can be good for us: the light and warmth can make us feel relaxed and sensual, and can increase the release of endorphins, leaving us with a natural “high”. UV rays also help our bodies to produce vitamin D, which is necessary for healthy bones and healing scar tissue.

But there’s a difference between the sun and tanning. Sun can be good; tanning in the sun is less good. If you lie out tanning in the sun, you’re vulnerable to burns and skin cancer. Yet, despite repeated attempts by doctors and the fashion industry to bring in bone-white-skin chic, we still tend to think that everyone looks better with a tan.

Your therapist will explain what you should wear for your treatment, but generally, you will be given a choice between wearing your own swimwear or underwear, disposable paper knickers, or nothing at all. Remember that if you don’t dare to bare, you’ll be left with some white bits! It is sensible to opt for the disposable underwear provided, as these offer minimal coverage, and you won’t be left with tan stains on your own clothes. It is a good idea to wear dark clothes to put on after your treatment, too.

Spray tan

Spray/air tanning is available in both spas and high-street salons. Spray tans take place in a plastic “pod” or a tall fabric tent, to prevent the tanner spraying around the room. You enter the pod and stand on the “x” that is marked on the floor. Your therapist will warn you when she is about to start, and will advise you on how to stand, and when to turn around. She will then spray a light covering of the self-tanner onto your skin, building the colour gradually to your chosen shade. The whole process takes only 10 to 15 minutes.